Challenging trolls and publishing comments

Internet troll - michelle bailey vicarI have recently had a troll that has been posting anonymous comments about a number of my posts on this blog. I don't really mind when someone posts a conflicting opinion as that usually opens room for a debate.

However anonymous comment posters, who are rude, defamatory or clearly trolling don't get the pleasure of seeing their comments published. I also have now decided to remove the option of allowing comments to be posted anonymously and while trolling commentators can still create false google accounts and false identities, they will have to manufacture multiple accounts as I progressively ban them from the commenting space.

I will not publish an anonymous comment, even from a third party that is defamatory or libellous or likely to cause hurt to people beyond the topic e,g, children and/or vulnerable people.

I will publish a comment by someone who identifies themselves, and provides a reasonable argument for their point of view or other evidence to back it up. In some cases as in Scots law when there are at least two corroborating comments(that are substantial) from two different parties, then I will still publish what may be considered a controversial opinion as long as the comment meets the criteria that it does not place children or vulnerable adults at risk, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too.

The internet is a wild place.You are free to offer an opinion, even a disgusting one as long as it meets my criteria for publication.


Ruth Richards-Hill

Ruth, a free range human being and a middle aged mum of three adult children and very young grandmother to two little girls, is a glass artist, and a digital strategist, She retains the right to change her mind about anything and believes in a compassionate approach to most things, you can contact her using the contact page on this blog.